Senior Women Who Snooze Soundly Age Healthy - Home Instead Senior Care helps Austin elders & seniors at home - 512-347-9207.

Q. The older I get, the more trouble I have sleeping and, since my husband died after 53 years of marriage, it’s gotten worse.  I find I don’t feel as good during the day as a result, even though I take long naps.  

• Cutting down on your napping during the day and increasing your exercise are ways that may help.  Here are other tips from sleep experts:
• Establish a routine sleep schedule.
• Avoid utilizing bed for activities other than sleep or intimacy.
• Avoid substances that disturb your sleep, like alcohol or caffeine.
• If you must nap, limit the time to less than one hour and no later than 3 p.m.
• Stick to rituals that help you relax each night before bed. This can include such things as a warm bath, a light snack or a few minutes of reading.
• Don’t take your worries to bed. Bedtime is a time to relax, not to hash out the stresses of the day.
• If you can’t fall asleep, leave your bedroom and engage in a quiet activity. Return to bed only when you are tired.
• Keep your bedroom dark, quiet and a little cool.

Visit our blog in a day to read more about this sleep study! Thank you for reading.

Better Sleepers are Successful Agers! Find good Assisted Living Care in Austin, Texas - Home Instead Senior Care - call us today at 512-347-9207.

If you have an urgent concern or question, please send it to our in house expert, Denise Thomas- denise.thomas@homeinstead.com.

Better Sleepers are Successful Agers! Find good Assisted Living Care in Austin, Texas - Home Instead Senior Care - call us today at 512-347-9207.

At the annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies reported a link between normal sleep and healthy aging. A study first reported strong associations between disturbed rest/activity rhythms and mortality rates in older, community-dwelling men. A separate study found that less daytime sleeping and fewer complaints of insomnia best predicted successful aging in the women.

“It is uncertain whether the relationship between rest/activity circadian rhythms and mortality in older people is casual, or whether rest/activity circadian rhythms represent a potent biomarker related to increased risk of death,” said Misti L. Paudel of the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.

Researchers at the University of California-San Diego assessed 2,226 women ages 60 and older for use of sleeping aids, daytime sleepiness, napping, insomnia, early morning awakening, snoring, overall sleep quality and sleep duration, U.S News & World Report says. Based on the results, 20.8 percent of the women were categorized as “successful agers.”

“Our findings reinforce the idea that good sleep is of utmost importance for good health,” said study author Sonia Ancoli-Israel. “Healthcare professionals need to ask their patients – of all ages – about sleep and help those with poor sleep to find ways for improvement.”

Please call Home Instead Senior Care Austin when seeking home care and help for your senior parent living in Austin and Lakeway, Texas. Call us today at 512-347-9207.

Seeking Caregivers for Assisted Living help in Austin, call 512-347-9207 or go to Home Instead Senior Care Austin.

Home Instead Senior Care Austin is currently working overtime to recruit CAREGivers for personal and home care aides. It’s become the second-fastest growing occupation, focused on nonmedical care: companionship, errands, accompanying to doctor’s appointments, preparing meals, especially when a family member isn’t available to do these things.

HOME INSTEAD SENIOR CARE MENTIONED ON GOOD MORNING AMERICA
Good Morning America aired a segment today on “The Best Jobs for Seniors.” Home Instead Senior Care was mentioned in the segment as a national employer hiring caregivers.

Home Instead Senior Care is also mentioned in GMA’s online story, citing personal and home care aides has become the second-fastest growing occuapation focused on nonmedical care. There is also a link to the Home Instead Senior Care Web site on the womenforhire.com Web site that resulted from this story.  Be sure to check out the blog postings, as well.

You know you have a special way of taking care of others - maybe you’ve been a family caregiver or you just want to make a difference in the life of a senior. Share your unique talents and skills to help seniors stay independent and live the lifestyle they desire. Be a CAREGiver.

Call 512-347-9207 or go to Home Instead Senior Care Austin.

Here are the 10 tips for Austin Seniors to help stretch your budget. 

Send Denise Thomas, our relder care expert, your personal concern or question on elder care. It will be treated confidentially - denise.thomas@homeinstead.com. She can help answer any question or concern you may have concerning an aging relative.

10 Ways Seniors Can Stretch Their Dollars

Home Instead Senior Care with various senior and financial experts give the following 10 ways that seniors can stretch their dollars:

Seek the services of an objective financial planner. Go to The Garrett Planning Network -(www.garrettplanningnetwork.com) featuring experts throughout the country who offer their advice on a fee-only basis.

• Get a second opinion on investments and financial purchases.
• Contact your local Area Agency on Aging, if you’re having trouble paying for food and gas.  For the office near you, log on to National Association of Area Agencies on Aging at www.n4a.org.
• Get back to gardening.  The economic downturn is generating a resurgence in gardening, and the over 55 crowd traditionally has been among the most avid gardeners. With food costs up as much as 25 percent in places, gardening provides a 1 to 10 savings ratio. 
• Avoid convenience foods, which are more expensive.  Watch for sales on fresh or canned fruits, vegetables and meats. 
• Look for deals on generic medications.  Contact your pharmacist about ways to save money on your medications.
• Walk when you can.  If the gas prices are cutting into your social life, organize a walking club or walk with friends. 
• Carpool when you can’t walk.  There’s economy in numbers.  If you can’t afford to drive somewhere solo or in pairs, contact others you know going in the same direction or the same place and share costs. 
• Keep drapes drawn during the heat of the day, and minimize opening and closing doors in the cold of the winter.  Close off parts of the house you’re not using to cut down on utility costs.

If you or a loved one needs assistance around the house, contact Home Instead Senior Care Austin at 512-347-9207.

If you have an aging relative living in Austin and often wonder if they are having trouble keeping up financially with paying bills? Here are 10 things to look for during your next visit home. 

Please send Denise Thomas, our resident elder care expert, your personal concern or question on elder care. It will be treated confidentially - denise.thomas@homeinstead.com. She can help answer any question or concern you may have concerning an aging relative.

The top ten list was designed by Home Instead Senior Care and the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging for families to spot if the downturn in the economy is impacting your aging senior.  If you’re a family caregiver, ask yourself the following questions:

1. Is your senior’s home too warm in the summer and too cold in the winter?
2. Is the lawn not getting mowed nor is the sidewalk getting cleaned in inclement weather?
3. Is your loved one complaining about not being able to afford medications?
4. Are home repairs not getting made?
5. Is there a shortage of food in the house?
6. Is your senior skipping doctor’s appointments?
7. Is your older adult staying home more and becoming isolated?
8. Is your senior cutting out entertainment?
9. Does your loved one eat out less?
10. Did your senior cancel a vacation?

Contact your local Area Agency on Aging or Home Instead Senior Care Austin, if you’re an older adult experiencing difficulties because of the economy.  Or, if you have a financial issue, contact the Garrett Planning Network.

What warning signs do you look for when visiting an aging relative? You may look for warning signs other than financial or signs that show economic concern. For example, what signs do you look for that may signal your aging loved one is not taking medications properly? What about sleep deprivation.. what do you look for? Please leave your comments below. Thank you.

Visit our blog in a day or two when we post the Top Ten Things A Senior Can Do to Stretch Dollars!

Please call Home Instead Senior Care Austin at 512-347-9207.

Home Care in Austin - Home Instead Senior Care Austin - 512-347-9207

Most seniors in Austin are having to cut corners and pinch pennies due to the economy - be careful that you do not put yourself at risk.

Older adults in Austin, Texas are cutting everyday expenses to keep up with the economic downturn.  Local senior and elder care experts warn families and older adults be on alert to make sure seniors aren’t cutting too deeply. 

Warning signs:

• Skipping medications
• Pulling the plug on air conditioning 
• Canceling social outings
• Cutting back on grocery items 

A report released AARP in May, “The Economic Slowdown’s Impact on Middle Aged and Older Americans,” shows that 59 percent of seniors 65 and older surveyed said they’d found it more difficult to pay for essential items such as food, gas and medicine.  And almost half 47% said they found it more difficult to pay for utilities such as heating, cooling or phone service.  46% reduced the number of times they eat out and 45% cut back on entertainment.

Cuts of essential items such as food and medication should be of immediate concern to seniors’ families, suggest Home Instead Senior Care Austin. Other reductions in spending can lead to less obvious issues - the biggest problem that we see is senior isolation, which can magnify during this troubled time in our economy with the high price of gas.

When families live long distance from their aging relatives, and adult children are busy trying to make ends meet themselves, an older adult can get in trouble very quickly.  It’s critical that that someone near your loved one look out for their well-being. Home Instead Senior Care Austin checks in on loved ones to ensure they are safe in their homes and eating properly, taking their medications and able to maintain their appointments and a healthy social life.

Our next post we’ll discuss top cutting costs warning signs. Home Instead Senior Care Austin - 512-347-9207.

Home Instead Senior Care Austin helps seniors in Austin stay safe at home. Call us today 512-347-9207.

In the summer months, it’s difficult for seniors to stay cool and comfortable in Austin, Texas. Home Instead Senior Care posted a Kent State University study featuring seniors over the age of 65 in four U.S. cities. The study shows that 90 percent of the respondents/seniors were aware there was a heat warning, only about half of the them pay heed or did anything about it.  They thought the warnings were targeting the much “older” American.

To make sure that your senior loved one remains safe and healthy during the hot summer months in Austin, we give you some important tips to follow:

• Make sure water is available in every room through out the home. We suggest having a glass filled with water for quick access. 
• Dress in cool, lighter color and light weight clothing.  
• Instruct them to stay inside and out the hot sun - during the hottest times of the day. 
• When it’s too hot to go outside for activities, take a nap  or read a book. Just stay out of the hot outdoors.
• Keep the window blinds pulled down. Keep the house tightly closed for higher energy efficiency.

If your senior in Austin requires help for care; home maker services, personal care, Alzheimer’s care, and intermittent transportation contact Home Instead Senior Care Austin - 512-347-9207.

Home Instead Senior Care Austin - Quality elder home care at home. Call us 512-347-9207. 

When seniors are looking to interact more with their grandchildren and stay healthy at the same time, we suggest challenging a grandchild to a week of walking!  Wear a pedometer - both you and grandchild - you will be able to count the steps each day for a week. Then continue to use the pedometer throughout the year, striving for a 20-percent increase in step totals, and aiming for 10,000 steps a day.  This also is an activity that our CAREGivers do with clients of Home Instead Senior Care Austin.
 
Walking Tips for Seniors:

• Our upcoming Fall season can be the perfect time to start walking!  The weather is cooler. Fall colors are beautiful. And senses and memories can come alive during a stroll through a nearby park.
• As you walk look at the colors, sounds, smells and feel of the leaves. Reminisce about the things enjoyed  while growing up and the middle years. There are wonderful stories that will stimulate memories.  

Before you start your walking - your natural shock absorbers (or “fat padding”) in seniors’ feet deteriorate with age. So does bone density, particularly in women. Combined, these factors make seniors prone to stress fractures. Softer ground produces less shock than harder surfaces and is more foot-friendly. If possible, walk on grass or dirt paths which are flat, even and well-manicured.

Be on the alert later in the fall when cold weather becomes an issue. The cold can cause numbness, limiting the client’s ability to detect trauma or wounds to the feet. It also makes surfaces harder, resulting in more shock to the feet and ankles with every step. When the weather gets too cold, or in our case now, too hot, continue your walking in the local mall, an indoor track or an exercise facility.

Home Instead Senior Care Austin - Giving quality tips and care to Austin seniors. Call us 512-347-9207. 

Home Instead Senior Care Austin is a good option for families who want their elderly loved ones to remain living at home. Call us 512-347-9207 for more information when looking for quality alternatives to assisted living and nursing homes in Austin, Texas.

Senior Home Care is a relatively new service when comparing it to other care services like nursing homes or even assisted living facilities. So what is senior and elder home care and when is the appropriate time to consider it for your aging relative?

When your loved one has trouble taking care of daily living activities such as:

• bathing
• dressing
• managing some tasks
• during convalescent recovery after an illness

..they may face the choice of getting help or leaving their home to stay in a facility that can offer that daily care. 

The problem with the latter - can be very expensive.  Your recovering senior, like most,  want to stay in their home.  If it’s a matter of recovering from surgery, the cost to stay elsewhere because of minor inconveniences can be a serious financial drain.

And in some cases, adult children and grandchildren, other family, neighbors, and friends can pitch in.  The problem is that it’s often not enough.  Working adult children find it hard to leave their jobs to help mom in the morning. Other family and friends just are not available consistently.

Home Instead Senior Care Austin is a viable alternative - CAREGivers are trained to handle these kinds of situations. We pick up the care for family members when they cannot be there. Our CAREGivers do a variety of duties such as:

• Light Housekeeping
• Cooking
• Companionship
• Participate in crafts
• Participate in card games
• Help with bathing
• Dressing
• Running errands
• Transportation
• Shopping
• and more

Home Instead Senior Care CAREGivers provide assistance wherever it is necessary. Call us today at 512-347-9207.

Home Instead Senior Care Austin is a good option for families who want their elderly loved ones to remain living at home. Our CAREGivers ensure their safety and nutritional health habits. Call us 512-347-9207 for more information when looking for quality alternatives to assisted living and nursing homes in Austin, Texas. 

Studies show elders and seniors who sleep better are successful “agers”. Research presented at the annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies reports a link between normal sleep and healthy aging. A study first reported strong associations between disturbed rest/activity rhythms and mortality rates in older, community-dwelling men. A separate study found that less daytime sleeping and fewer complaints of insomnia best predicted successful aging in the women.

“It is uncertain whether the relationship between rest/activity circadian rhythms and mortality in older people is casual, or whether rest/activity circadian rhythms represent a potent biomarker related to increased risk of death,” said Misti L. Paudel of the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.

University of California-San Diego did a study on sleep habits of 2,226 women ages 60 and older for use of:

• sleeping aids
• daytime sleepiness
• napping
• insomnia
• early morning awakening
• snoring
• overall sleep quality
• sleep duration

Based on the results, 20.8 percent of the women were categorized as “successful agers”. The findings reinforce the idea that good sleep is important for good health. “Healthcare professionals need to ask their patients of all ages about sleep and help those with poor sleep to find ways for improvement,” said study author Sonia Ancoli-Israel.

Home Instead Senior Care Austin CAREGivers can ensure a comfortable and safe living space for seniors and elders in Austin. Call us for a free assessment. 512-347-9207.